Strongest Mage with the Lust system

"I…" Ellie hesitated a little before nodding, "Yes. I was worried too. After all, we won't be able to survive if something happens to you."

"Ellie!" Ella shouted out. With a worried look on her face, she secretly glanced at Emily. She was worried Emily would get angry at her because she was indirectly saying Emily and others would abandon them if Max wasn't there for them.

However, she was thinking too much because Emily didn't react at all to her words.

"Did I say anything wrong, mom?" Ellie defiantly asked.

"You…" Ella didn't know what to say in response, but her face flushed red in anger. Seeing this, Max spoke up. "There is no need to get angry at her, Ella. She isn't wrong." Saying this, he looked at Ellie straight into her eyes and nodded, "You are right. Without me, no one here would care about you guys. Do you know why? Because you guys are strangers to them and, most importantly, you are nothing but burdens."

As he spoke, his voice kept getting colder and emotionless. "I know you are angry at me because you think I took advantage of your mother. To be honest, you aren't entirely wrong. But you aren't entirely right, either."

"Not to mention I SAVED YOU! I got rid of her curse, which would've killed her in a few years. I also gave her a cultivation technique and helped her become a mage. These aren't favors you can repay even with your lives, since you are worth nothing right now."

"Not to mention I SAVED YOU! I got rid of her curse, which would've killed her in a few years. I also gave her a cultivation technique and helped her become a mage. These aren't favors you can repay even with your lives, since you are worth nothing right now."

"The least you can and should do, right now, is show me some gratitude, but no, you are here acting like a child and getting angry at me. Do you know the consequences of making me angry?"

Ellie's face turned pale and her mind went blank when she heard him. "I-I didn't mean…" Tears welled up in her eyes as she tried to tell she wasn't ungrateful. But before she could say anything, Max shouted out, "Get lost! I don't want to see you until you can understand the reality of things."

Ellie stood still, stunned, for a few moments before she turned and ran away, her tears falling down her cheeks.

"S-Sir Max, she d-didn't mean that. Please don't mis–" Ella was also stunned. She didn't think Max would suddenly become angry at Ellie. However, she quickly came to her senses and tried to placate him. But Max interrupted her and waved his hand. "Don't worry about it. Go take care of her. Don't let her run too far from the group."

Hearing this, Ella heaved a sigh of relief and rushed after her daughter.

After they left, Emily looked down at him and asked in a soft voice, "What happened? What are you worried about?"

"Hm?" Max looked at her in surprise upon hearing this.

Seeing his surprised look, Emily revealed a light smile. "What? Did you think I can't see something is bothering you or else why would you suddenly get angry at her? That isn't like you. So, tell me, what's wrong?"

Hearing this, Max smiled bitterly, shook his head and closed his eyes. He was indeed worried about something, but he didn't want to tell her about it because if she knew, she would get worried, too. Drip!

But just then, a droplet landed on his face, causing him to open his eyes. Just then, another droplet landed on his face. Max's heart trembled when he realized Emily was crying and the droplets were her tears. He became flustered and quickly raised his hand to wipe her tears. "Hey, why are you crying? What happened?"

Emily grabbed his hand, not letting it reach her face and said while her tears continued to fall on his face, "Do you think if you don't tell me about it, I won't be worried? If yes, then you are wrong. Please Max, don't try to bear everything yourself. I'm your elder sister. Let me share your burden. If you don't tell me, I… I'll get angry."

Max couldn't bear seeing her cry and sighed, "Okay. I'll tell you. But first, stop crying or I won't tell you."

"Um." Hearing this, a brilliant smile blossomed on her face and she gradually stopped crying. Max wiped her tears with a gentle expression on his face and before he sighed and his expression turned solemn.

"You know how I couldn't cultivate before." He started, "Half a year ago, I got an inheritance treasure. It is the reason I could cultivate and become a three-star mage in just a few months. However, to help me two days ago, it exhausted all of its energy and had become dormant. It can no longer help me. I was relying on it to get the medi–"

Mid-speech, he suddenly paused and his expression changed because right at the moment, the last trace of white energy within his body had disappeared and a message appeared in his mind.

[Host, most of the system's divine energy was exhausted to help you and the remaining energy wasn't enough for the system to operate normally. So, the system decided to use the remaining divine energy to complete your Lust overlord's bloodline and create your mana veins, which would allow you to cultivate and sense mana like other mages.]

[Remember, the lust overload bloodline is unlike the bloodlines you know. It's a real treasure. It'll give so many surprises but remember to use it well and if possible don't use it in front of others, especially in front of those in Monarch and Supreme realm. Otherwise there will be consequences.]

[Also… the drop of life and the cultivation technique for that girl Garima are in your storage ring. The drop of life is a gift from the system. You can use it but the cultivation technique is locked and can't be used until you complete it's respective mission.]

[Now, the system will go dormant until you can help it recover its divine energy. Although the system can't help you locate where it because of insufficient energy, there are definitely places in this world where you can find it.]

[The system and I hope… you are alive and.. strong enough to dominate this… world when we… wake up. If you aren't… strong… enemies… find you…]

After going through the message, Max realized the thin stream of pink blood in his body was the lust overlord's bloodline. He then closed his eyes and tried to sense mana to see if he could really sense it and left pleasantly surprised. He could finally sense mana.

His excitement rose even more when he found a crystal bottle containing a drop of sparkling liquid and a wooden strip in his storage ring. When Emily saw him close his eyes, furrowed his brows and sigh, she thought he was worrying about losing his treasure. She lovingly caressed his cheeks and consoled, "Little Max, don't worry. So what if you can't use your treasure? People face many setbacks on their road to become stronger. Some weak willed give up and lose everything but those with strong will, they don't. They persevere, work hard and eventually, they achieve their dreams. I know you are strong. So, don't be so worried or lose hope. Treat this as a new beginning, a new start towards your dreams."